Leading Sephardic Yeshiva Heads Strongly Oppose New Detention Law Targeting Torah Students

A sharply worded letter signed by prominent Sephardic yeshiva heads and rabbis, including Rabbi Moshe Tzadaka of Porat Yosef Yeshiva, condemns a newly proposed Israeli law aimed at preventing detentions of yeshiva students. The rabbis argue the law contains oppressive mechanisms reminiscent of previous draft laws that sought to undermine Torah study. They criticize the law’s strict supervision system and the requirement for yeshiva heads to report student absences, calling it a mandate to act as "lowly informers."

The letter details that the law would subject yeshivas to frequent invasive surprise inspections and impose immediate detention on any student absent for even one hour out of nine daily study hours. It also isolates students by forcing them to face state authorities alone, unlike the current collective community support that often prevents mass arrests or conscriptions. The law mandates meticulous monitoring and data cross-checking by supervisors and requires yeshiva leaders to report repeated absences, with severe penalties including yeshiva closure and detention of students if absences exceed 20%.

The rabbis warn that these provisions will destroy the spiritual atmosphere and character of yeshivas, stripping away essential conditions for religious growth and learning success. They emphasize that the law retains humiliating sanctions and removes benefits currently granted to yeshiva students. The letter stresses that no observant Jew should support this harmful law, which will increase arrests and cause many to be conscripted against Torah prohibitions. The rabbis reaffirm the longstanding halachic ruling forbidding army service, including in so-called "Haredi" military tracks, citing the consensus of leading Torah authorities across communities. They call for total opposition to the law and express hope in divine mercy to overcome this disgraceful threat to Torah study.